Shane Allen, Channel 4's head of comedy who commissioned the show, added: ''We are very excited about Hacks and it's great that Channel 4 can be so quick off the mark to shine a satirical light on what's been happening in the media over the last few months.''

No cast for the show has been announced but the programme is due to be screened later this year.

It follows the scandal that has hit News International and brought about the closure of the News Of The World, one of the world's most popular newspapers and Britain's biggest title.

It has led to the resignations of senior News Corporation executives Rebekah Brooks, the former News of the World editor and News International chief executive and Les Hinton, the chief executive of Dow Jones, publisher of the Wall Street Journal as well as top Scotland Yard figures.

Rupert Murdoch, the 80 year-old chief executive of News Corporation, was also forced to give evidence to MPs in what he described as the "most humble day of my life".

Meanwhile David Cameron, the Prime Minister, has also become drawn into the scandal after he hired Andy Coulson, a former News of the World editor who quit after Clive Goodman, the paper's former Royal Editor was jailed for hacking.

Mr Coulson later quit as director of communications in 10 Downing Street over the phone hacking scandal.

Several News of the World executives and journalists have also been arrested by Scotland Yard detectives from Operation Weeting, who are investigating illegal practices at the now defunct Sunday tabloid. No one has been charged.